And again, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had made an end of all these things, and had consecrated his son Mosiah to be a ruler and a king over his people, and had given him all the charges concerning the kingdom, and also had appointed priests to teach the people, that thereby they might hear and know the commandments of God, and to stir them up in remembrance of the oath which they had made, he dismissed the multitude and they returned, everyone according to their families, to their own houses.
For behold, his designs were to stir up the Lamanites to anger against the Nephites, and this he did that he might usurp great power over them, and also that he might gain power over the Nephites by bringing them into bondage, etc.
Therefore, the king of the Lamanites, whose name was Tubaloth, who was the son of Ammoron, supposing that Coriantumr, being a mighty man, could stand against the Nephites, insomuch (with his strength and also with his great wisdom) that by sending him forth, he should gain power over the Nephites, therefore he did stir them up to anger, and he did gather together his armies, and he did appoint Coriantumr to be their leader, and did cause that they should march down to the land of Zarahemla to battle against the Nephites.
For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the Devil, who is the father of contention; and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another. ... Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another, but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away.
And there is none that calls upon your name, that stirs up himself to take hold of you, for you have hidden your face from us and have consumed us because of our iniquities. ... Our holy and our beautiful house where our fathers praised you is burned up with fire, and all our pleasant things are laid waste.
And this he did that he himself might go forth among his people, or among the people of Nephi, that he might preach the word of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty, and that he might pull down, by the word of God, all the pride and craftiness, and all the contentions which were among his people, seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them. ... And thus, in the commencement of the ninth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, Alma delivered up the judgment seat to Nephihah, and confined himself wholly to the High Priesthood of the Holy Order of God, to the testimony of the word, according to the spirit of revelation and prophecy.
(Teachings and Commandments) Joseph Smith History 10:18
And behold, they shall not deny that which you have received, but they shall build it up and shall bring to light the true points of my doctrine, yea, and the only doctrine which is in me. ... Yea, Satan does stir up the hearts of the people to contention concerning the points of my doctrine, and in these things they do err, for they do wrest the scriptures and do not understand them.
But behold, this was a critical time for such contentions to be among the people of Nephi; for behold, Amalickiah had again stirred up the hearts of the people of the Lamanites against the people of the Nephites, and he was gathering together soldiers from all parts of his land, and arming them, and preparing for war with all diligence, for he had sworn to drink the blood of Moroni.
And Moses called Bezalel, and Oholiab, and every wise-hearted man, in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom — even everyone whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it — and they received of Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it.
For behold, the Lord had blessed them so long with the riches of the world that they had not been stirred up to anger, to wars, nor to bloodsheds; therefore, they began to set their hearts upon their riches, yea, they began to seek to get gain that they might be lifted up one above another.
(Teachings and Commandments) Joseph Smith History 1:11
It commenced with the Methodists, but soon became general among all the sects in that region of country — indeed, the whole district of country seemed affected by it, and great multitudes united themselves to the different religious parties, which created no small stir and division among the people, some crying, Lo here, and some, Lo there. ... Some were contending for the Methodist faith, some for the Presbyterian, and some for the Baptist; for notwithstanding the great love which the converts to these different faiths expressed at the time of their conversion, and the great zeal manifested by the respective clergy who were active in getting up and promoting this extraordinary scene of religious feeling in order to have everybody converted, as they were pleased to call it— let them join what sect they pleased; yet when the converts began to file off, some to one party and some to another, it was seen that the seemingly good feelings of both the priests and the converts were more pretended than real.
Now this martyrdom caused that many of their brethren should be stirred up to anger; and there began to be contention in the wilderness, and the Lamanites began to hunt the seed of Amulon and his brethren and began to slay them; and they fled into the east wilderness.
Now it came to pass that Zerahemnah was exceeding wroth, and he did stir up the remainder of his soldiers to anger, to contend more powerfully against the Nephites.
Therefore, he had accomplished his design, for he had hardened the hearts of the Lamanites, and blinded their minds, and stirred them up to anger, insomuch that he had gathered together a numerous host to go to battle against the Nephites.
Now this great evil, which came unto the people because of their iniquity, did stir them up again in remembrance of the Lord their God.
And the remainder, having fled into the east wilderness and having usurped the power and authority over the Lamanites, caused that many of the Lamanites should perish by fire because of their belief; for many of them, after having suffered much loss and so many afflictions, began to be stirred up in remembrance of the words which Aaron and his brethren had preached to them in their land; therefore, they began to disbelieve the traditions of their fathers, and to believe in the Lord, and that he gave great power unto the Nephites; and thus there were many of them converted in the wilderness.
And if it so be that they rebel against me, they shall be a scourge unto thy seed to stir them up in the ways of remembrance.
And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up; they shall every man turn to his own people and flee everyone into his own land. ... Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver and gold, nor they shall not delight in it.
And now except ye do repent of that which ye have done, and begin to be up and doing, and send forth food and men unto us, and also unto Helaman, that he may support those parts of our country which he hath retained, and that we may also recover the remainder of our possessions in these parts, behold, it will be expedient that we contend no more with the Lamanites until we have first cleansed our inward vessel, yea, even the great head of our government. ... And except ye grant mine epistle, and come out and shew unto me a true spirit of freedom, and strive to strengthen and fortify our armies, and grant unto them food for their support, behold, I will leave a part of my Freemen to maintain this part of our land, and I will leave the strength and the blessings of God upon them, that none other power can operate against them — and this because of their exceeding faith and their patience in their tribulations — and I will come unto you; and if there be any among you that has a desire for freedom, yea, if there be even a spark of freedom remaining, behold, I will stir up insurrections among you, even until those who have desires to usurp power and authority shall become extinct.
And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man takes up; they shall every man turn to his own people and flee everyone into his own land. ... Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, who shall not regard silver and gold, they shall not delight in it.
(Teachings and Commandments) Glossary: Wrest
The Lord warns that: Satan does stir up the hearts of the people to contention concerning the points of my doctrine, and in these things they do err, for they do wrest the scriptures and do not understand them (JSH 10:20).
And the Lord God said unto me, They shall be a scourge unto thy seed to stir them up in remembrance of me; and inasmuch as they will not remember me and hearken unto my words, they shall scourge them even unto destruction.
Yea, even they who have looked up to you for protection, yea, have placed you in a situation that ye might have succored them. ... And now, my beloved brethren — for ye had ought to be beloved, yea, and ye had ought to have stirred yourselves more diligently for the welfare and the freedom of this people.
What ails you now, that you are wholly gone up to the housetops, you that are full of stirs, a tumultuous city, a joyous city?
And after this manner did my brother Laman stir up their hearts to anger.